Final answer:
A punisher is a stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring, such as when my TV privileges were removed for staying up late. Negative reinforcement, on the other hand, increases behaviors by removing an aversive stimulus like parents ceasing to nag when chores are done regularly. Using reinforcement over physical punishment is recommended as it avoids promoting aggression and antisocial behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is a Punisher?
A punisher is any stimulus or event that follows a behavior and decreases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. An example from my experience would be when I was younger and stayed up past my bedtime to watch television. The response from my parents was taking away my TV privileges for the next night. The consequence of losing my TV privileges (the punisher) discouraged me from breaking my bedtime rule again.
Negative Reinforcement vs. Punishment
Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior, whereas punishment involves the application or removal of a stimulus to decrease a behavior. An example of negative reinforcement from my life is when my parents stopped nagging me to do my chores once I started doing them regularly. The cessation of the nagging was the negative reinforcer that increased my chore-doing behavior.
Drawbacks of Physical Punishment
Physical punishment can lead to increased aggression and antisocial behaviors in children. It is advised to use reinforcement techniques instead, which encourage positive behavior through rewards.